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Happy Birthday wish from Chuck Fairbanks, former OU coach"(Happy Birthday to) a great friend. Barry was like a younger brother to me. He was totally outstanding as a coach and a friend. Like all of us, we probably could look back and say there are some things we'd like to do over again, but when you look at the total body of work, it's a pretty darn outstanding career he's had and I'm awfully proud of that."

1969: Switzer the assistant
This photo was taken in 1969 in the middle of Switzer's tenure as an assistant on Fairbanks' staff at Oklahoma. Four years later, Switzer would take over for Fairbanks as the Sooners head coach. PHOTO BY BOB ALBRIGHT, The Oklahoman Archives